If it’s Sunday afternoon, it’s game time.

Players lace up their cleats and slip in their shin guards. Orange traffic cones are deployed as goal posts. Kickoff happens, and before long, the ever-expanding group of friends and neighbors are enjoying a spirited—occasionally competitive, always enjoyable—game of pickup soccer at Cold Spring Park.

The weekly game has been going for at least the past 25 years. (It could be longer than that; nobody is able to mark the official start date.) What began as an informal way for parents to pass the time while their children were in Newton Chinese Language School (NCLS) on Sundays has turned into one of Newton’s longest-running pickup soccer games, and an opportunity for players of all ages to connect around the beautiful game.

“Most people didn’t know each other at the beginning,” says Frank Wang, the game’s unofficial coordinator. “Now we are friends and we can talk to each other. The game serves as a community group.”

A player watches the ball. (Photo by Burt Granofsky)

Wang is one of the game’s longest-tenured players, having started when his own children attended NCLS in the early 2000s. Back then, he would recruit other parents by word of mouth to join the informal group at Albemarle Field. Now, he uses the social media app WeChat to keep the community informed about the game. Wang estimates that there are close to 300 players—from current college students to people who are close to retirement—who are part of the WeChat group. On any given Sunday, anywhere from 15 to 30 players will show up ready to play.

“Most of us grew up playing soccer in large groups with friends and classmates, and many of us even played for high school and college varsity teams,” he says. “So playing soccer has become a life-long hobby.”

A player smiles during a break in play. (Photo by Burt Granofsky)

Playing goalie today is Bin Feng, from Oak Hill. He wears a red Arsenal shirt—it’s his favorite team—as well as protective glasses and knee pads. His glasses prove to be a useful accessory: during one skirmish in front of his net, an opponent takes a shot that hits him square in the face. Play stops for a moment as people come over to check on Feng. He sits on the ground for a moment, and as he gets to his feet, he is laughing. Others are laughing too, impressed by his save. Play continues.

Like Wang, Feng is a veteran of this game. He has been involved for close to 20 years and also started when his children were in NCLS. He keeps playing because he enjoys the fun and friendship of this game. It’s not the only time he plays soccer: like several of the other regular pickup players, he also competes in the New England Over-the-Hill Soccer League™ (NEOTHSL), which provides competition for players who have aged out of other local soccer leagues. This weekly game, then, is also a form of training.

“It’s one of the ways to keep us in shape,” says Feng.

On this Sunday, there are 26 players in the game, loosely divided among two teams. One team wears white shirts, and the other team wears dark shirts. The number of players on each team is flexible; players occasionally step off the field to get water, and when new players arrive, they just jump into the game. There are no referees. Occasionally, a player will try to dribble the ball up the center of the field, but it’s a tough task given the number of defenders. The more successful path seems to be along the sidelines—especially since there are no fixed out of bounds markers.

Friends Zhidong Zhang and Yi Tian pose for a photo after the game. (Photo by Burt Granofsky)

Yi Tian, a 66-year old from Newton, dribbles the ball up the wing. Tian has been a weekly participant in this game for most of the 30 years he has lived in the city. He still makes time for the Sunday game because he likes the community of local players who show up. And, like Feng, he still competes in the NEOTHSL, so he has to stay in shape.

Tian plays soccer “at least three times a week,” he says. “It keeps me happy and healthy.”

After a solid 30 minutes of play, some of the players begin to look a bit fatigued. The ball ceases to move as crisply as before. Wang takes this opportunity to call for a break in play so players can rest and rehydrate.

Bin Feng enjoys a slice of watermelon during a break in play. (Photo by Burt Granofsky)

Someone has brought a watermelon, a perfect snack for such a warm day. Players sit in the shade and talk to each other as they eat. Everyone intermingles; younger with older, white shirts with dark shirts. And then, after a few minutes of rest, Wang calls them back to the field. It’s time to keep playing.